I designed a digital library for physical materials so that architects could keep working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The client is a material library based in Doha, Qatar.

I worked with a materials researcher and a library director to identify problems. Problems were surfaced based on their research, the nature of their collection, user needs, and their institutional goals.

I went from brief to prototype in roughly a week. The entire project, including business processes and sign-off, took 3 weeks.

Figma.

Project plan, architectural model, flow diagram, wireframes, interface designs, working prototype, invoice and payment processing.

I was in charge of architecture and interface design. I worked with a material researcher to understand goals for the digital library and user needs. I presented final designs and a prototype to the library director. I helped with handoff of designs to developers.

Michael Walker, Product Designer
Abdul Rahman Anwar, Material Researcher
Amy Andres, Material Library Director

How might we help users evaluate the physical properties of materials using a digital interface? How might we help users find and discover materials?

How might we increase awareness of the breadth of the material library collection? How might we collect and leverage data about material views and usage?

This was a freelance project. The client requested my services. We met to define project goals and go over previously conducted research on the purpose, function, and usage of material libraries.

The client had created initial designs of key library features. I assessed these designs for usability and accessibility.

I created flow diagrams to showcase how library features could be connected and simplified in order to create a better use experience. I shared these diagrams with the client before moving on to design wireframes.

I designed wireframes of key product features and screens. I shared these wireframes with the client and made adjustments based on their goals for the library.

I created content-aware interface designs based on the wireframes I drafted. I refined interface elements as part of the design process.

I created a functioning prototype of the material library to showcase different user journeys and features requested by the client.

I presented my work to the Library Director, who expressed great satisfaction with the results. The presentation lasted for an hour and covered my background, process, all designs, and the prototype.

The project is complete. I am informally working to handoff designs to developers.

Initial designs provided by the client did not fully consider usability or accessibility. I produced usable and accessible interfaces that met client objectives.

The client wanted to develop a digital interface but was still relying on a taxonomy developed for analog processes. I designed a flexible interface that can expand as they update their taxonomy.

Designs provided by the client focused primarily on discoverability. I provided insight about the importance of findability and delivered an interface that helps the user with both goals.

Initial designs provided by the client did not fully consider usability or accessibility. I produced usable and accessible interfaces that met client objectives.

I evaluated initial designs provided by the client to better understand requested features. I used this information to map library architecture. I created new designs that were focused on tasks users needed to complete.

I used my experience in product design to optimize all features for usability and accessibility. I did this by creating interfaces that realize principles such as visibility, mapping, consistency, and affordance.

The client wanted to develop a digital interface but was still relying on a taxonomy developed for analog processes. I designed a flexible interface that can expand as they update their taxonomy.

Extensibility exists when something allows for the addition of new capabilities or functionality. Initial designs did not fully take extensibility into account.

I met with the client several times over the course of the project to understand their current state and desired state outcomes. I used wireframe designs to explain the importance of taxonomy and demonstrate that taxonomy used for in-person experiences may not translate to digital environments. I provided content-aware interface designs to demonstrate the kind of curation needed to develop a successful digital library.

I prioritized extensibility after several client meetings because I saw that the library was in the process of adapting its taxonomy for digital applications. The interface I designed is easy to update and works well whether tens or thousands of materials are catalogued. Final interface designs provide the client with a structure that can be used to test several taxonomy models.

Designs provided by the client focused primarily on discoverability. I provided insight about the importance of findability and delivered an interface that helps the user with both goals.

I created a flow diagram that provided a high-level overview of the user journey through the library interface. The flow diagram also showcased how different parts of the interface were connected. This exploration illustrated the need for findability features in addition to discovery features.

I created different views of search engine results pages and a context-aware task bar to help users find specific materials more easily and more quickly.

This project is complete.

I gained more experience creating interfaces for physical objects (many of the interfaces I create are focused on the delivery of digital tools, information, and resources.) I also used the project as a chance to realize interface paradigms I explored in a corporate environment but had not had the chance to build.

If I did this project again I would ask the client to refine their taxonomy for digital environments before I created interface designs. That would allow me to create an interface that more accurately reflected the materials that are contained in the library.

This project is complete. I am informally helping with handoff of designs to developers.